Some restaurants are cavernous, giving patrons room to spread out and feel anonymous. Sometimes, though, it’s nice to get seriously cozy and settle into an intimate dining experience. These restaurants may be small on space, but they’re big on atmosphere. [Image credit: iStock.com/Predrag Vuckovic]

Game meats, such as venison, bison and elk, are gaining popularity, partly due to their unique taste, and the fact that they are generally leaner than farmed meats such as beef and pork. You don’t need to dress in camp or carry a gun to sample wild game – just head down to one of these local restaurants. Image credit: iStock.com/Brzozowska.

Mealtime entrees don’t get more comforting than a warm dish of freshly made pasta. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, taking the whole family for dinner or just grabbing some grub at a pub, here’s where to fill your belly with pasta dishes that will leave you happy and undoubtedly full. [Photo credit: iStock.com/kivoart]

Shawarma – a Middle Eastern dish consisting of roasted meat shaved off of a spit and usually served in a pita wrap sandwich or as part of a meal platter – has become a grab n’ go staple food in countries all over the world. These Calgary spots serve up some of the best shawarma in the city with all of the traditional accouterments as well as other favourite Middle Eastern dishes. [Image credit: iStock.com/Lauri Patterson]

It’s common knowledge that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so why not enjoy it all day? Many of Calgary’s independent eateries offer all-day breakfast menus, allowing you to indulge in a wide variety of morning chow choices from sunrise to sunset.

Paired with a nice cup of coffee or topped with a scoop of ice cream, pie is unbeatable comfort food. And yet it faces stiff competition from cupcakes as the city’s dessert of choice. Well, pie is fighting back with old fashioned deliciousness as well as new and tantalizing flavours.

The quintessential Mexican meal, tacos are also a relatively scarce commodity in Calgary. However, we’ve done some digging and unearthed the select few restaurants that make truly marvelous versions of these hand-held snacks.

A great coffee house isn’t always just about the joe. Great atmosphere, friendly baristas, delicious food and free Wi-Fi all add to the overall quality of a café experience. Here are a few great coffee spots that bring it all together for the ultimate caffeine break.

The cocktail culture in Calgary is overflowing with possibilities – especially during the holiday season. From new and trendy lounges to bars that bring back an old-school vibe, stay warm this holiday season with creative concoctions at these spots. [Photo credit: istockphoto.com/ca/portfolio/mmeemil]

For low-income Calgarians, nutritious food can become more luxury than necessity. On Oct. 18, participating restaurants in the Restaurants for Change initiative raise proceeds for Community Food Centres Canada and its local outlets that help make healthy eating accessible for our most vulnerable. Here are participating Calgary restaurants where patrons can help do some good by simply dining out. [Photo: River Cafe]